Lions Head To Lehman F&M Open; Host LIU On Sunday

Friday, January 7

Lancaster, Pa.

9:00 a.m.

Columbia University

David H. Lehman F&M Open

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

Lions Head To Lehman F&M Open; Host LIU On Sunday

1/6/2022 4:50:00 PM | Wrestling

Watch F&M Open (FloWrestling)Watch vs. LIU (ESPN+)Live Stats (F&M Open)

Columbia Wrestling will open the weekend at the David. H. Lehman F&M Open on Fri., Jan. 7, before hosting LIU on Sun., Jan. 9.

NEW YORK — It has been a while, but Columbia Wrestling (0-1) returns to the mat for the first time since Dec. 3-4 with a busy weekend, starting on Friday, Jan. 7, at 9 a.m., when the Lions head to the Eighth Annual David H. Lehman F&M Open, hosted by Franklin & Marshall, before returning to Morningside, on Sunday, Jan. 9, to host LIU (0-4, 0-1 EIWA) in Columbia's Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association opener, with that match set to get going at 1 p.m. on Schiller Court at Levien Gym.

HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW
David H. Lehman F&M Open (Jan. 7) - Live Stats | Watch (FloWrestling [$]) | Social Media (@culionswr)
vs. LIU (Jan. 9) – Watch (ESPN+) | Social Media (@culionswr)

LAST TIME OUT: Columbia last took on No. 4 Michigan in the first match on Schiller Court in Levien Gym since 2015 which also doubled as Columbia's dual meet and home opener for the 2021-22 season. Despite falling 34-3 to the No. 4 Wolverines, Aaron Ayzerov opened the match with a comeback decision, 8-4, over Michigan's Max Maylor.

Joshua Ogunsanya battled No. 13 Cameron Amine to the finish at the tail end of the meet, falling in a close 3-1 decision in a match that Ogunsanya was actively in from start-to-finish.

HEADING TO LANCASTER: For the first time in program history, "The Nation's Oldest Program" will be sending the bulk of its starting lineup to the Lehman F&M Open, as the Lions will send 10 wrestlers to the tournament. Highlighting the top Lions heading to the Franklin & Marshall hosted tournament, ae No. 16 Matt Kazimir (141), a returning 2020 NCAA National Championship qualifier, and Angelo Rini (133), who posted a podium finish at the 2020 EIWA Championships.

A competitive tournament, the Lions can expect to see large collection of top competition and the first matches will get going at 9 a.m. and will be streamed on FloWrestling.com ($). Aligning with Franklin & Marshall's current venue polcies, there will be no fans allowed to attend the F&M Open.

LIU MATCHUP: LIU and Columbia will meet for only the third time in history, and the last time out in 2020, Columbia crushed the Sharks, 45-3, in a match held in Brookville, New York and hosted by LIU. During that match, Kyle Mosher (157), Lennox Wolak (174), Danny Conley (285), Joe Manchio (125), Rini, Kazimir and Andrew Garr (149) all got wins, and all of those Lions are expected to weigh-in on Sunday.

LIU enters the weekend at 0-4 having dropped dual meets to George Mason (Dec. 4), VMI (Dec. 5), Franklin and Marshall (Dec. 5) and Bloomsburg (Dec. 15) by a combined score of 104-67 and they will begin their weekend by hosting Bucknell on Saturday, Jan. 8 before making the trip to Morningside.

By the time the Sharks reach Morningside, they will have faced a pair of EIWA opponents, making it their third conference match of the season, while Columbia will be hosting only its second dual meet of the season and first EIWA match.

RANKED LIONS: Columbia enters the weekend with four ranked nationally by either FloWrestling or Intermat. Leading the way Kazimir (7-0) who carries a No. 16 ranking from Flo and a No. 14 ranking by Intermat in the 141-pound weight class.

Manchio (5-3) has remained among the best 125-pounders in the nation and his rankings sit at No. 17 from Flo and No. 19 by Intermat. Columbia's nationally ranked wrestlers are rounded out by Ogunsanya (165) and Mosher (157).

Ogunsanya's rankings sit at No. 23 from Flo and No. 22 by Intermat, while Mosher holds an Honorable Mention from Flo and a No. 29 ranking by Intermat.

SOUTHEAST STRONG: On Nov. 7, Columbia opened its 2021-22 season with a trip to Salem, Virginia to take part in the Southeast Open. A pair of Lions, Manchio and Ogunsanya, each took home titles with Manchio winning at 125 pounds and Ogunsanya taking the title at 165 pounds.

Manchio knocked off the then-ranked No. 7 125-pounder in the nation, Sam Latona of Virginia Tech. Manchio got a late takedown against the defending ACC Champion and 2021 NCAA All-American to complete the marquee win in his first weekend of competition for the season.

As for Ogunsanya, he knocked off four opponents on his way to a first-place finish in the first collegiate action of the sophomore's career. Ayzerov (174) and Matt Arciuolo (149) rounded out Columbia's weekend with a pair of third place finishes as the Lions placed 12 total at the event.

CAPTAINS OF THREE: At the start of the season, at Columbia's outdoor practice during Columbia Football's Homecoming game on Oct. 16, Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Zach Tanelli announced that Kazimir and Manchio will be joined by Brian Bonino as the 142nd, 143rd and 144th Lions to be named team captains for the 2021-22 season.

"All three bring unique elements to the program that consistently elevate the men and women of this team to be better versions of themselves," said Tanelli. "They deserve to have a title associated with their leadership."

VENUE POLICIES: Due to the substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases being reported in New York City, New York State, and the Columbia University campus community, Columbia University is implementing a temporary no-spectator attendance policy for its home athletics events through January 18. This policy is effective immediately.

PROJECTED LINEUPS
David H. Lehman F&M Open
Friday, Jan. 7 | Lancaster, Pa. (Schnader Field House)

125 – Nick Babin
133 – Angelo Rini, Zack Witmer
141 – No. 16 Matt Kazimir
149 – Danny Fongaro, Matt Arciuolo
174 – Aaron Ayzerov, Nick Fine
285 – Danny Conley, Jalen Stephens

PROJECTED LINEUPS
Columbia vs. LIU
Sunday, Jan. 9 | New York, N.Y. (Schiller Court at Levien Gym)

125 | No. 17 Joe Manchio (COL) vs. Robbie Sagaris / Kaelen Francois (LIU)
133 | Angelo Rini (COL) vs. Bryce Cockrell (LIU)
141 | No. 16 Matt Kazimir (COL) vs. Devin Matthews (LIU)
149 | Danny Fongaro / Matt Arciuolo (COL) vs. Drew Witham (LIU)
157 | Andrew Garr (COL) / James Johnston / Rhise Royster (LIU)
165 | No. 23 Joshua Ogunsanya (COL) vs. Blake Bahna (LIU)
174 | Lennox Wolak / Aaron Ayzerov / Nick Fine (COL) vs. Ryan Ferro (LIU)
184 | Brian Bonino / Jack McGill / Michael Baker (COL) vs. Tj Franden / Gavin Claro (LIU)
197 | TBD (COL) vs. Nunzio Crowley / Karl Oz Bouyer (LIU)
285 | Danny Conley / Jalen Stephens (COL) vs. Tim Nagosky (LIU)

FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Wrestling by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsWR), Instagram (@culionswr) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).